Goji Oaties

I love experimenting in the kitchen, especially at the end of the month when funds are low and conversely creativity is high. I have made some very strange things while waiting for payday – not all of them very healthy, but sometimes a girl’s gotta eat the dry salty crack and not feel bad, you know?

This recipe was a direct result of low funds and an inspired kitchen session, and somehow it just worked. I know because Mark assures me it’s a definite winner, and that the key is in the light, spongey texture. He’s a great judge of my cooking – completely unafraid to disdainfully throw away a half-eaten, dry-as-dust protein ball mishap, or point blank refuse to try my misadventure of rice noodles in whatever’s-in-the-fridge sauce (to be fair, I didn’t end up eating them either).

This recipe is based on a baked protein bar recipe, only I was missing the primary ingredient – protein powder. I also had no flaxseed, chia, or any of the other ingredients I usually put in. My very intricate thought process went something like this – what do I have? Oats! K great, experimental oat bars it is. And since then, we haven’t gone a week without stocking up on them.

Goji Oaties

Ingredients:

2/3 cup rolled oats soaked in water for at least half an hour

½ cup mixed seeds

½ pecan pieces

1-2 tbsp cacao, depending on how chocolatey you like them

¼ cup coconut flakes

¼ psyllium husks (can omit if you don’t have – just more seeds/nuts instead)

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

Pinch Himalayan crystal salt

1 tsp vanilla extract (can use essence)

2 heaped tbsp raw honey

2 fresh dates / 3 dried dates, soaked in water for an hour

Handful of goji berries

Method:

1. Put all the ingredients except gojis in your food processor and combine well.

2. Stir through gojis with a spoon.

3. Pour mixture into greased small baking tray or casserole dish and pat smooth.

4. Bake for 20 – 25 mins until a testing fork comes out clean and the texture of the cake is firm and springy when you press it.

5. Allow to cool and cut into bars or blocks.

Tip: To make a protein rich snack, add ¼ cup protein powder and balance the wet to dry with a few teaspoons of water or oat milk. You can also substitute protein powder for psyllium husk.

#healthysnacks #kitchencowgirl #cookingexperiments